Method and apparatus for transmitting data

ABSTRACT

A method for transmitting data includes: acquiring a Multicast and Broadcast Service Mapping Information Element (MBS_MAP_IE) and MBS data corresponding to the MBS_MAP_IE; wherein the MBS_MAP_IE carries a parameter for indicating the frame position of the next MBS_MAP_IE; setting a sleep duration according to the parameter for indicating the frame position of the next MBS_MAP_IE; and acquiring the next MBS_MAP_IE and MBS data corresponding to the next MBS_MAP_IE when the sleep duration expires.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/968,531, filed on Jan. 2, 2008, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2006/001346, filed on Jun. 15, 2006,which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 200510079980.X,filed on Jun. 27, 2005, and Chinese Patent Application No.200510085375.3, filed on Jul. 26, 2005, all of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to mobile communication technologies, andmore particularly, to a method and apparatus for transmitting data in amulticast and broadcast service.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS) provides point-to-multipointservice transmitting data from one data source at the network side tomultiple mobile terminals in a mobile network, so that network resourcesare shared and the utilization rate of the network resources isimproved, especially the utilization rate of air interface resources.Further, the MBS is capable of implementing not only the multicast andbroadcast for a pure-text and low-rate service such as a message, butalso the multicast and broadcast for a high-rate multimedia service, andthus the MBS conforms to the trend of mobile data development.Therefore, the MBS has a vast range of prospects.

In the MBS, for the purpose of reducing power consumption of a mobileterminal, a sleep mode of the mobile terminal is provided. During sleepduration, e.g. a sleep window, agreed in advance by both the mobileterminal and a base station, the mobile terminal stays in a sleep state,the air interface disconnects with the base station temporarily, and themobile terminal neither sends nor receives any service information; onlyduring a listening duration agreed in advance by both the mobileterminal and the base station, the mobile terminal stays in a listeningstate and receives MBS data normally. Therefore, by applying the sleepmode of the mobile terminal, transmission requests of the mobileterminal in both an uplink and a downlink are reduced, and thus thepower consumption of the mobile terminal is reduced.

In the MBS, when being in the sleep mode, the mobile terminal is capableof receiving the MBS data in a non macro diversity manner. In the nonmacro diversity manner, for the purpose of receiving the MBS dataaccurately by the mobile terminal, the base station transmits to themobile terminal a Downlink Resource Allocation (DL_MAP) message carryingan MBS Mapping Information Element (MBS_MAP_IE) when transmitting aframe of the MBS data to the mobile terminal. The format of theMBS_MAP_IE is shown in table 1.

TABLE 1 Syntax Size(bits) Notes MBS_MAP_IE{ — — Extended-2 DIUC 4extended DIUC type Length 8 length of the MBS_MAP_IE MBS Zone identifier7 MBS Zone identifier corresponding to the identifier provided by the BSat connection initiation Macro diversity enhanced 1 Macro diversityenhanced indication: 0 = Non Macro-Diversity enhanced zone 1 =Macro-Diversity enhanced If(Macro diversity enhanced = 1){ Permutation 20b00 = PUSC permutation 0b01 = FUSC permutation 0b10 = Optional FUSCpermutation 0b11 = Adjacent subcarrier permutation Idcell 6 Cellidentity OFDMA Symbol Offset 7 OFDMA symbol offset from the start of theMBS zone to the start of the current frame DIUC change indication 1 DIUCchange indication if (DIUC change indication = — — 1) { Reserved 1Reserved bit Boosting 3 Power boost 000: not boosted; 001: +6 dB; 010:−6 dB; 011: +9 dB; 100: +3 dB; 101: −3 dB; 110: −9 dB; 111: −12 dB DIUC3 — No. Subchannels 4 the number of subchannels occupied by the MBS_MAPmessage NO. OFDMA symbols 2 the number of OFDMA symbols occupied by theMBS_MAP message Repetition Coding Indication 2 Repetition CodingIndication: 0b00 - No repetition coding 0b01 - Repetition coding of 20b10 - Repetition coding of 4 0b11 - Repetition coding of 6 } — — }else{DIUC 4 — CID 12  the last 12 bits of MBS connection number OFDMA SymbolOffset 8 OFDMA symbol offset from the MBS corresponding to CID to thestart of the current frame Subchannel offset 6 subchannel offset fromthe MBS service corresponding to CID to the start of the current frameBoosting 3 Power boost 000: not boosted; 001: +6 dB; 010: −6 dB; 011: +9dB; 100: +3 dB; 101: −3 dB; 110: −9 dB; 111: −12 dB SLC_3_indication 1sleep indication information NO. OFDMA Symbols 6 the number of OFDMAsymbols occupied by the MBS corresponding to CID NO. Subchannels 6 thenumber of subchannels occupied by the MBS corresponding to CIDRepetition Coding Indication 2 repetition Coding Indication: 0b00 - Norepetition coding 0b01 - Repetition coding of 2 0b10 - Repetition codingof 4 0b11 - Repetition coding of 6 if(SLC_3_indication = 1) { — — NextMBS frame offset 8 the offset from the next frame including an MBS_MAPmessage to the current frame Next MBS OFDMA Symbol 8 OFDMA symbol offsetfrom the next offset MBS_MAP message to the start of the frame includingthe next MBS_MAP message } — — } — — if !(byte boundary) { — — PaddingNibble Pad to Byte boundary } }

With reference to table 1, when the mobile terminal is in the sleep modeand receives the MBS data in the non macro diversity manner, theMBS_MAP_IE transmitted to the mobile terminal by the base stationcarries the parameters for indicating the specific MBS resources, OFDMASymbol Offset and Subchannel offset. The parameter OFDMA Symbol Offsetindicates the symbol offset of the MBS data in the data frame currentlyreceived, and the parameter Subchannel offset indicates the subchanneloffset of the MBS data in the subchannel of the data frame currentlyreceived. The parameter NO.OFDMA Symbols indicate the number of symbolsoccupied by the MBS data, and the parameter NO. Subchannels indicate thenumber of subchannels occupied by the MBS data. In this way, accordingto the parameter OFDMA Symbol Offset, the parameter Subchannel offset,the parameter NO.OFDMA Symbols and the parameter NO. Subchannels, themobile terminal may acquire the MBS resources and receive the MBS dataaccurately.

With reference to table 1, when the mobile terminal is in the sleep modeand receives the MBS data in the non macro diversity manner, theMBS_MAP_IE transmitted to the mobile terminal by the base stationfurther carries the parameter SLC_3_indication=1 for indicating that themobile terminal adopts the sleep mode and the frame position of the nextMulticast and Broadcast Service Mapping (MBS_MAP) message needs to beindicated. Moreover, the MBS_MAP_IE correspondingly carries parametersfor indicating the receiving position of the next MBS_MAP message, NextMBS frame offset and Next MBS OFDMA Symbol offset. Here, the parameterNext MBS frame offset indicates the frame offset from the next MBS_MAPmessage to the data frame currently received, and the parameter Next MBSOFDMA Symbol offset indicates the symbol position of the next MBS_MAPmessage, i.e. the symbol offset from the next MBS_MAP message to theheader of the frame including the next MBS_MAP message. In this way,according to the parameters Next MBS frame offset and Next MBS OFDMASymbol offset carried in the MBS_MAP_IE currently received, the mobileterminal wakes up to listen to the MBS_MAP message in subsequentprocesses. According to the relevant information carried in the MBS_MAPmessage currently received, the mobile terminal determines the next MBSresources so as to acquire the next MBS data.

It can be seen from the above description, in the conventionaltechnologies, when the mobile terminal is in the sleep mode and receivesthe MBS data in the non macro diversity manner, the base stationindicates the MBS resources repetitively. The reason is as follows: inthe MBS_MAP_IE currently received from the base station, the definitionof the parameter SLC_3_indication=1 indicates that the frame position ofthe next MBS_MAP message needs to be indicated, and the parameters NextMBS frame offset and Next MBS OFDMA Symbol offset indicates thereceiving position of the next MBS_MAP message; the next MBS_MAP messagesent by the base station to the mobile terminal indicates the next MBSresources; accordingly, the mobile terminal has to wake up to receivethe next MBS_MAP message in the subsequent processes so as to obtain thenext MBS resources through the MBS_MAP message. However, in the nextMBS_MAP_IE sent by the base station, the parameters OFDMA Symbol offsetand Subchannel offset also indicates the next MBS resources. Therefore,the base station indicates the MBS resources repetitively. But themobile station not only has to wake up to acquire the MBS resources whenreceiving the MBS_MAP_IE, but also has to wake up to acquire the MBSresources again when receiving the MBS_MAP message, and the MBSresources acquired respectively when receiving the MBS_MAP_IE and theMBS_MAP message are identical. Therefore, the sleep duration of themobile terminal is reduced, the power consumption of the mobile terminalincreases, and mobility of the mobile terminal decreases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for transmitting data so as toincrease sleep duration of the mobile terminal and reduce powerconsumption of the mobile terminal.

A method for transmitting data includes:

acquiring a Multicast and Broadcast Service Mapping Information Element(MBS_MAP_IE) and MBS data corresponding to the MBS_MAP_IE, and theMBS_MAP_IE carries a parameter for indicating the frame position of thenext MBS_MAP_IE;

setting a sleep duration according to the parameter for indicating theframe position of the next MBS_MAP_IE; and

acquiring the next MBS_MAP_IE and MBS data corresponding to the nextMBS_MAP_IE when the sleep duration expires.

An apparatus for transmitting data includes:

a first unit, for acquiring a Multicast and Broadcast Service MappingInformation Element (MBS_MAP_IE) and MBS data corresponding to theMBS_MAP_IE; wherein the MBS_MAP_IE carries a parameter for indicatingthe frame position of the next MBS_MAP_IE and acquiring the nextMBS_MAP_IE and MBS data corresponding to the next MBS_MAP_IE when asleep duration expires; and

a second unit, for setting the sleep duration according to the parameterfor indicating the frame position of the next MBS_MAP_IE.

It can be seen that when the mobile terminal is in a sleep mode andreceives MBS data in a non macro diversity manner, the method providedby the present invention has the following advantages:

In the present invention, a parameter for indicating the frame positionof the next MBS_MAP_IE is added. It is unnecessary for the mobileterminal to receive the next MBS_MAP message, and the MBS resources areacquired only by receiving each MBS_MAP_IE. Therefore, the sleepduration of the mobile terminal increases, and the power consumption ofthe mobile terminal reduces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting dataaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting dataaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are now made to thefollowing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings soas to provide a more explicit explanation of the object, technicalsolution and beneficial effects of the present invention.

When a mobile terminal is in a sleep mode and receives MBS data in a nonmacro diversity manner, a base station transmits both MBS data and aDL_MAP message carrying an MBS_MAP_IE to the mobile terminal. Therefore,for the purpose of receiving the MBS data, the mobile terminal wakes upto receive the MBS_MAP_IE at the time point when the base stationtransmits the MBS_MAP_IE. While in the conventional technologies, themobile terminal needs to wake up to acquire MBS resources at the timepoint when the base station transmits the MBS_MAP message, and the MBSresources obtained through the MBS_MAP message may also be acquiredthrough the MBS_MAP_IE in the DL_MAP. It can be seen that the MBS_MAPmessage is a redundant message for the mobile terminal. Actually onlythe MBS_MAP_IE every time sent by the base station needs to be obtainedby the mobile terminal and necessary MBS resources can be obtained, sothat the MBS data transmitted by the base station every time is receivednormally.

According to the above, the present invention provides a method fortransmitting data, which includes: defining an MBS_MAP_IE of an MBS toindicate the frame position of the next MBS_MAP_IE of the MBS,transmitting the MBS_MAP_IE and MBS data corresponding to the MBS_MAP_IEto a mobile terminal, obtaining the MBS data by the mobile terminalaccording to the received MBS_MAP_IE, setting a sleep duration of themobile terminal by the mobile terminal according to the frame positionof the next MBS_MAP_IE indicated by the received MBS_MAP_IE andreceiving the next MBS_MAP_IE and next MBS data by the mobile terminalwhen the sleep duration expires.

In the present invention, when the MBS_MAP_IE is transmitted to themobile terminal, the MBS_MAP_IE is carried in a downlink message, andthen the downlink message is transmitted to the mobile terminal. Thedownlink message may be an original DL_MAP message or a message definedby the present invention.

Moreover, for the purpose of ensuring that the mobile terminal mayreceive the next MBS_MAP_IE accurately when the sleep duration expires,the present invention provides two specific implementation embodiments.In the first implementation embodiment, a parameter indicating the frameoffset of the next MBS_MAP_IE, a parameter indicating the symbol offsetof the next MBS_MAP_IE and a parameter indicating the informationelement length of the next MBS_MAP_IE in one MBS_MAP_IE are set; andthen the MBS_MAP_IE sent to the mobile terminal carries the value of theparameter indicating the frame offset of the next MBS_MAP_IE, the valueof the parameter indicating the symbol offset of the next MBS_MAP_IE andthe value of the information element length of the next MBS_MAP_IE; themobile terminal, when the sleep duration expires, only receives andobtains the next MBS_MAP_IE carried in a downlink message, not receivesthe whole frame of the downlink message according to the value of theparameter indicating the symbol offset of the next MBS_MAP_IE and thevalue of the information element length of the next MBS_MAP_IE. In thesecond implementation embodiment, the mobile terminal receives the wholeframe of the downlink message and obtains the next MBS_MAP_IE from thedownlink message by parsing the downlink message.

Further, it should be noted that the MBSs corresponding to theMBS_MAP_IE and the MBS data in the present invention corresponds to thesame MBS connection identifier.

Two embodiments respectively corresponding to the two implementationembodiments provided by the present invention for ensuring that the nextMBS_MAP_IE is received by the mobile terminal when the sleep durationexpires are taken as examples to describe complete implementingprocesses of the present invention.

The first embodiment is described as follows.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting dataaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention. Withreference to FIG. 1, when a mobile terminal is in a sleep mode andreceives MBS data in a non macro diversity manner, the method fortransmitting data according to the present invention includes thefollowing processes.

At block 101, a parameter indicating that MBS resources are acquired bythe mobile terminal only according to an MBS_MAP_IE is set in anMBS_MAP_IE.

In the conventional technologies, the parameter SLC_3_indication=1 isused to indicate that the mobile terminal adopts a sleep mode and theframe position of the next MBS_MAP message needs to be indicated, thatis, the parameter SLC_3_indication=1 indicates that the mobile terminalreceives the redundant MBS_MAP message in subsequent processes andacquires the MBS resources again according to the MBS_MAP message.Therefore, for the purpose of avoiding receiving the redundant MBS_MAPmessage, at this block, the parameter indicating that the MBS resourcescan be acquired by the mobile terminal only according to the MBS_MAP_IEis set in the MBS_MAP_IE, and specific processes are as follows.

The existing parameter SLC_3_indication=1 in the MBS_MAP_IE isredefined; the parameter SLC_3_indication=1 is set to indicate that themobile terminal adopts the sleep mode and the receiving position of thenext MBS_MAP_IE needs to be indicated. Or the parameterSLC_3_indication=1 is directly deleted and a predefined parameter isadded, the predefined parameter indicating that the mobile terminaladopts the sleep mode and the receiving position of the next MBS_MAP_IEneeds to be indicated.

In this way, by using the parameter set at this block indicating thatthe MBS resources can be acquired by the mobile terminal only accordingto the MBS_MAP_IE, it is unnecessary for the base station to send theMBS_MAP message to the mobile terminal, only the parameter indicatingthe next MBS_MAP_IE needs to be carried in the MBS_MAP_IE; and themobile terminal may learn that it is unnecessary to receive theredundant MBS_MAP message and only the next MBS_MAP_IE needs to bereceived.

At block 102, the parameters indicating the specific receiving positionof the MBS_MAP message in the MBS_MAP_IE, i.e. the parameter Next MBSframe offset and the parameter Next MBS OFDMA Symbol offset, aredeleted.

At block 103, a frame offset parameter indicating the frame position ofthe next MBS_MAP_IE is set in the MBS_MAP_IE.

The frame offset parameter indicating the frame position of the nextMBS_MAP_IE is used to indicate the frame offset from the next MBS_MAP_IEto the MBS_MAP_IE in the frame currently received. For example, theframe offset parameter indicating the frame position of the nextMBS_MAP_IE may be set as Next MBS_MAP_IE frame offset.

At block 104, a symbol offset parameter indicating the next MBS_MAP_IEis set in the MBS_MAP_IE.

The symbol offset parameter indicating the next MBS_MAP_IE is used toindicate the symbol offset from the next MBS_MAP_IE to the header of thenext frame including the next MBS_MAP_IE. For example, the symbol offsetparameter indicating the next MBS_MAP_IE may be set as Next MBS_MAP_IEOFDMA Symbol offset.

At block 105, an information element length parameter indicating theactual length of the next MBS_MAP_IE is set in the MBS_MAP_IE.

The information element length parameter indicating the actual length ofthe next MBS_MAP_IE is used to indicate the specific length of the nextMBS_MAP_IE, so that the mobile terminal may set a listening duration ofthe mobile terminal according to the specific frame length. For example,at this block, the information element length parameter may be set asNext MBS_MAP_IE Length.

By performing actions at blocks 101 to 105, in the present invention,the parameters relating to the next MBS_MAP message are deleted from theMBS_MAP_IE, and the parameters indicating the specific receivingposition of the next MBS_MAP_IE and that indicating the length of thenext MBS_MAP_IE is added.

Therefore, a redefined MBS_MAP_IE is acquired accordingly, and thespecific format of the redefined MBS_MAP_IE is shown in table 2.

TABLE 2 Syntax Size(bits) Notes MBS_MAP_IE{ — — Extended-2 DIUC 4extended DIUC type Length 8 length of the MBS_MAP_IE MBS Zone identifier7 MBS Zone identifier corresponding to the identifier provided by the BSat connection initiation Macro diversity enhanced 1 Macro diversityenhanced indication: 0 = Non Macro-Diversity enhanced zone 1 =Macro-Diversity enhanced If(Macro diversity enhanced = 1){ Permutation 20b00 = PUSC permutation 0b01 = FUSC permutation 0b10 = Optional FUSCpermutation 0b11 = Adjacent subcarrier permutation Idcel1 6 Cellidentity OFDMA Symbol Offset 7 OFDMA symbol offset from the start of theMBS zone to the start of the current frame DIUC change indication 1 DIUCchange indication if (DIUC change indication = — — 1) { Reserved 1Reserved bit Boosting 3 Power boost 000: not boosted; 001: +6 dB; 010:−6 dB; 011: +9 dB; 100: +3 dB; 101: −3 dB; 110: −9 dB; 111: −12 dB DIUC3 — No. Subchannels 4 the number of subchannels occupied by the MBS_MAPmessage NO. OFDMA symbols 2 the number of OFDMA symbols occupied by theMBS_MAP message Repetition Coding Indication 2 Repetition CodingIndication: 0b00 - No repetition coding 0b01 - Repetition coding of 20b10 - Repetition coding of 4 0b11 - Repetition coding of 6 } — — }else{DIUC 4 — CID 12  the last 12 bits of MBS connection number OFDMA SymbolOffset 8 OFDMA symbol offset from the MBS corresponding to CID to thestart of the current frame Subchannel offset 6 Subchannel offset fromthe MBS service corresponding to CID to the start of the current frameBoosting 3 Power boost 000: not boosted; 001: +6 dB; 010: −6 dB; 011: +9dB; 100: +3 dB; 101: −3 dB; 110: −9 dB; 111: −12 dB SLC_3_indication 1sleep indication information NO. OFDMA Symbols 6 the number of OFDMAsymbols occupied by the MBS corresponding to CID NO. Subchannels 6 thenumber of subchannels occupied by the MBS corresponding to CIDRepetition Coding Indication 2 repetition Coding Indication: 0b00 - Norepetition coding 0b01 - Repetition coding of 2 0b10 - Repetition codingof 4 0b11 - Repetition coding of 6 if (SLC_3_indication = 1) { NextMBS_MAP_IE frame 8 the frame offset from the frame including offset thenext MBS_MAP_IE of the MBS to the current frame, and the MBScorresponding to the current CID Next MBS_MAP_IE 8 the OFDMA symboloffset from the next OFDMA Symbol offset MBS_MAP_IE of the MBS to theheader of the frame including the next MBS_MAP_IE, and the MBScorresponding to the current CID Next MBS_MAP_IE Length 8 the length ofthe next MBS_MAP_IE of the MBS corresponding to the current CID } } if!(byte boundary) { Padding Nibble } }

At block 106, at the frame time point when the base station transmitsthe MBS data to the mobile terminal, the base station transmits thedownlink message carrying the MBS_MAP_IE and the MBS data to the mobileterminal.

The downlink message may be an existing DL_MAP message or a predefinedmessage in the present invention.

Further, at this block, MBS_MAP_IE transmitted by the base stationcarries the value of the frame offset parameter indicating the frameposition of the next MBS_MAP_IE, the value of the symbol offsetparameter indicating the next MBS_MAP_IE and the value of theinformation element length parameter indicating the actual length of thenext MBS_MAP_IE.

At block 107, the mobile terminal acquires the MBS_MAP_IE from thedownlink message, and the mobile terminal learns that the MBS resourcescan be acquired according to the MBS_MAP_IE instead of the next MBS_MAPmessage according to the parameter in the MBS_MAP_IE which indicatesthat the MBS resources can be acquired only according to the MBS_MAP_IEby the mobile terminal, such as the parameter SLC_3_indication=1;therefore, the mobile terminal acquires the specific MBS data of thistime according to the parameters of OFDMA Symbol Offset, Subchanneloffset, NO.OFDMA Symbols and NO.Subchannels.

The mobile terminal acquires the symbol offset of the MBS data in theframe data currently received according to the OFDMA Symbol Offset,acquires the subchannel offset of the MBS data in the frame currentlyreceived according to the Subchannel offset, acquires the number ofOFDMA symbols occupied by the MBS data according to the NO.OFDMA Symbolsand acquires the number of subchannels occupied by the MBS dataaccording to the NO.Subchannels, and thus the mobile terminal mayreceive the MBS data accurately.

At block 108, the mobile terminal sets a sleep duration of the mobileterminal according to the value of the frame offset parameter indicatingthe frame offset of the next MBS_MAP_IE in the MBS_MAP_IE whenidentifying the parameter indicating that the MBS resources can beacquired by the mobile terminal only according to the MBS_MAP_IE in theMBS_MAP_IE.

The mobile terminal learns that it is unnecessary to receive the MBS_MAPmessage in the subsequent processes to obtain the MBS resources againaccording to the parameter in the received MBS_MAP_IE indicating thatthe MBS resources can be acquired by the mobile terminal only accordingto the MBS_MAP_IE, such as the parameter SLC_3_indication=1 shown intable 2, that is, it is unnecessary to listen to the MBS_MAP message atthe time point when the base station transmits the frame including theMBS_MAP message, so the mobile terminal may keep staying in the sleepstate. Moreover, the mobile terminal acquires the frame offset from thenext MBS_MAP_IE to the MBS_MAP_IE of the frame currently receivedaccording to the value of the frame offset parameter in the receivedMBS_MAP_IE indicating the frame offset of the next MBS_MAP_IE, such asthe value of the Next MBS_MAP_IE frame offset shown in table 2, and thenthe mobile terminal sets the sleep duration according to the durationcorresponding to the frame offset. For example, if the value of NextMBS_MAP_IE frame offset is 6, the mobile terminal may learn that theframe position of the next MBS_MAP_IE is 6 frames behind the frameincluding the MBS_MAP_IE, so the mobile terminal may set the sleepduration as duration of 6 frames. Therefore, it is ensured that themobile terminal may be in the sleep state in the duration of 6 frames,so that the power consumption of the mobile terminal may be reduced.Moreover, the mobile terminal may be in a listening state and receivethe next MBS_MAP_IE accurately after the duration of 6 frames, i.e. whenthe next MBS_MAP_IE arrives.

At block 109, the mobile terminal acquires the symbol offset from thenext MBS_MAP_IE to the header of the frame including the next MBS_MAP_IEaccording to the value of the symbol offset parameter in the receivedMBS_MAP_IE indicating the symbol offset of the next MBS_MAP_IE.

The mobile terminal may acquire the symbol offset from the nextMBS_MAP_IE to the header of the frame including the next MBS_MAP_IEaccording to the Next MBS_MAP_IE OFDMA Symbol offset shown in table 2.

At block 110, the mobile terminal acquires the actual length of the nextMBS_MAP_IE according to the information element length parameter in thereceived MBS_MAP_IE indicating the information element length of thenext MBS_MAP_IE corresponding to the mobile terminal. The mobileterminal acquires the actual length of the MBS data according to theparameter in the MBS_MAP_IE indicating the length of the MBS data. Andthen the mobile terminal sets the listening duration of the mobileterminal according to the acquired actual length of the next MBS_MAP_IEand the actual length of the MBS data.

It is supposed that the parameter in MBS_MAP_IE indicating the length ofthe MBS data is the NO. OFDMA Symbols shown in table 2. In addition, theactual length of the next MBS_MAP_IE indicates the length occupied bythe next MBS_MAP_IE received by the mobile terminal in the subsequentprocess, that is, the mobile terminal may set the listening duration ofthe mobile terminal according to the length of the next MBS_MAP_IE, andit is unnecessary to receive the whole frame message including theMBS_MAP_IE.

At block 111, the mobile terminal stays in the sleep state during thesleep duration set by the mobile terminal. The air interface disconnectsfrom the base station temporarily; and the mobile terminal neither sendsnor receives any message.

At block 112, the mobile terminal receives and obtains the nextMBS_MAP_IE and the MBS data transmitted by the base station when the setsleep duration expires, i.e. the mobile terminal receives and obtainsthe next MBS_MAP_IE and the MBS data transmitted by the base stationduring the listening duration set by the mobile terminal.

The mobile terminal sets the duration corresponding to the frame offsetof the next MBS_MAP_IE as the sleep duration. Therefore, the time pointwhen the set sleep duration expires is just the time point when thedownlink message carrying the next MBS_MAP_IE arrives.

Moreover, at this block, the mobile terminal acquires the nextMBS_MAP_IE by the following processes. The mobile terminal determinesthe symbol position of the next MBS_MAP_IE according to the acquiredsymbol offset from the next MBS_MAP_IE to the header of the frameincluding the next MBS_MAP_IE, and then the mobile terminal receives andacquires the next MBS_MAP_IE at the determined symbol position accordingto the acquired information element length of the next MBS_MAP_IE.

In the first embodiment, two parameters are added, with one indicatingthat MBS resources can be acquired only according to the next MBS_MAP_IEand the other indicating the frame position of the next MBS_MAP_IE. Itis unnecessary for the mobile terminal to receive the next MBS_MAPmessage, and the MBS resources are acquired only by receiving eachMBS_MAP_IE. Therefore, the sleep duration of the mobile terminalincreases, and the power consumption of the mobile terminal reduces.Moreover, parameters in the MBS_MAP_IE for indicating the next MBS_MAPmessage are deleted. It is unnecessary for the base station to transmitthe MBS_MAP message to the mobile terminal. Therefore, air interfaceresources are saved, and bandwidth efficiency is improved.

Further, in the first embodiment, the information element length of thenext MBS_MAP_IE and the symbol offset from the next MBS_MAP_IE to theheader of the frame including the next MBS_MAP_IE are indicated in theMBS_MAP_IE. Therefore it is advantageous for the mobile terminal to seta listening duration. It is unnecessary for the mobile terminal toreceive the whole frame of a downlink message including an MBS_MAP_IE,and only the next MBS_MAP_IE in the downlink message needs to bereceived. Therefore, the power consumption of the mobile terminal isfurther reduced, the processing procedure is simplified for the mobileterminal, and processing complexity is reduced for the mobile terminal.

The second embodiment is described as follows.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting dataaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention. Withreference to FIG. 2, when a mobile terminal is in a sleep mode andreceives MBS data in a non macro diversity manner, the method fortransmitting data according to the present invention includes thefollowing processes.

The processes described at blocks 201 to 203 are substantively the sameas those described at blocks 101 to 103.

At block 204, at the frame time point when the base station transmitsthe MBS data to the mobile terminal, the base station transmits adownlink message carrying the MBS_MAP_IE and MBS data to the mobileterminal.

The downlink message may be an existing DL_MAP message or a predefinedmessage in the present invention.

Further, the difference between the MBS_MAP_IE carried in the downlinkmessage at block 204 and the MBS_MAP_IE carried in the downlink messageat block 106 described in the first embodiment is as follows. At block106, the MBS_MAP_IE carries not only the value of the frame offsetparameter indicating the frame offset of the next MBS_MAP_IE, but alsothe value of the symbol offset parameter indicating the symbol offset ofthe next MBS_MAP_IE and the value of the information element lengthparameter. And at block 204, the MBS_MAP_IE only carries the frameoffset parameter indicating the frame offset of the next MBS_MAP_IE.

The processes described at blocks 205 to 206 are substantively the sameas those described at blocks 107 to 108.

The processes described at block 207 are substantively the same as thosedescribed at block 111.

At block 208, the mobile terminal receives and acquires the downlinkmessage carrying the next MBS_MAP_IE and the MBS data from the basestation when the set sleep duration expires.

At block 209, the mobile terminal acquires the next MBS_MAP_IE from thereceived downlink message and acquires the MBS data according to thenext MBS_MAP_IE.

The mobile terminal acquires the next MBS_MAP_IE from the downlinkmessage through the following process. The mobile terminal parses allcontents of the received downlink message and acquires the nextMBS_MAP_IE carried in the downlink message according to parameters beingcarried in the downlink message, including: parameters indicating thetype of each information elements and parameters indicating the lengthof each information element carried in the downlink message.

For example, the downlink message in the embodiment is the DL_MAPmessage. The DL_MAP message includes multiple information elements. Eachinformation element is identified by a Downlink Interval Usage Code(DIUC). When the DIUC is 15, it means that each of the informationcurrently received elements is an extended information element, and theMBS_MAP_IE is one of the extended information elements, Each of theextended information elements is further indicated by an Extended DIUC,and the Extended DIUC corresponding to MBS_MAP_IE is 0x00. Here, the“0x” means hexadecimal. In this way, at this block, the mobile terminalobtains the next MBS_MAP_IE from the DL_MAP message through thefollowing process. The mobile terminal parses the received DL_MAPmessage. When the DIUC corresponding to an information element is parsedto be 15, the mobile terminal determines that the information element isan extended information element. When the Extended DIUC corresponding toa extended information element is parsed to be 0x00, the mobile terminaldetermines that the extended information element is the MBS_MAP_IE andthen the mobile terminal acquires the length of the MBS_MAP_IE accordingto a parameter Length indicating the length of the information elementin the determined MBS_MAP_IE, and thus the mobile terminal acquires thenext MBS_MAP_IE.

In the second embodiment, two parameters are added, with one indicatingthat MBS resources can be acquired only according to the next MBS_MAP_IEand the other indicating the frame position of the next MBS_MAP_IE. Itis unnecessary for the mobile terminal to receive the next MBS_MAPmessage, and the MBS resources are acquired only by receiving eachMBS_MAP_IE. Therefore, the sleep duration of the mobile terminalincreases, and the power consumption of the mobile terminal reduces.Moreover, parameters in the MBS_MAP_IE for indicating the next MBS_MAPmessage are deleted. It is unnecessary for the base station to transmitthe MBS_MAP message to the mobile terminal. Therefore, air interfaceresources are saved, and bandwidth efficiency is improved.

The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention andare not for use in limiting the protection scope of the presentinvention. All modifications, equivalent replacements or improvementsmade within the principles of the present invention should be coveredunder the protection scope of the present invention.

1. A method for transmitting data, comprising: acquiring a Multicast andBroadcast Service Mapping Information Element (MBS_MAP_IE) and MBS datacorresponding to the MBS_MAP_IE, wherein the MBS_MAP_IE carries aparameter for indicating the frame position of a next MBS_MAP_IE;setting a sleep duration according to the parameter for indicating theframe position of the next MBS_MAP_IE; and acquiring the next MBS_MAP_IEand MBS data corresponding to the next MBS_MAP_IE when the sleepduration expires.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter forindicating the frame position of the next MBS_MAP_IE is a parameter forindicating the frame offset from the next MBS_MAP_IE to the MBS_MAP_IE;and the set sleep duration is the time duration corresponding to theparameter for indicating the frame offset from the next MBS_MAP_IE tothe MBS_MAP_IE.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the MBS_MAP_IE furthercarries a parameter for indicating the symbol offset from the nextMBS_MAP_IE to the header of the frame comprising the next MBS_MAP_IE anda parameter for indicating the length of the next MBS_MAP_IE.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein acquiring the next MBS_MAP_IE comprises:acquiring the next MBS_MAP_IE according to the parameter for indicatingthe symbol offset from the next MBS_MAP_IE to the header of the framecomprising the next MBS_MAP_IE and the parameter for indicating thelength of the next MBS_MAP_IE carried in the MBS_MAP_IE.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein the MBS_MAP_IE further carries a parameter forindicating the length of the next MBS_MAP_IE and a parameter forindicating the length of the MBS data.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinacquiring the next MBS_MAP_IE and MBS data comprises: acquiring the nextMBS_MAP_IE and the MBS data during a listening duration; and thelistening duration is set as the sum of the time duration correspondingto the parameter for indicating the length of the next MBS_MAP_IE andthe time duration corresponding to the parameter for indicating thelength of the MBS data.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiringthe next MBS_MAP_IE comprises: receiving a DL_MAP message carrying thenext MBS_MAP_IE; and acquiring the next MBS_MAP_IE from the DL_MAPmessage according to parameters carried in the DL_MAP message, whereinthe parameters carried in the DL_MAP message include a parameter forindicating the type of an information element and a parameter forindicating the length of the information element.
 8. The method of claim7, wherein acquiring the next MBS_MAP_IE from the DL_MAP messagecomprises: parsing the DL_MAP message; taking an information element asthe next MBS_MAP_IE when a Downlink Interval Usage Code (DIUC)corresponding to the information element is parsed as 15 and an extendedDIUC corresponding to the information element is parsed as 0x00;acquiring the parameter for indicating the length of the informationelement; and acquiring the next MBS_MAP_IE according to the acquiredparameter for indicating the length of the information element.
 9. Anapparatus for transmitting data, comprising: a first unit, configured toacquire a Multicast and Broadcast Service Mapping Information Element(MBS_MAP_IE) and MBS data corresponding to the MBS_MAP_IE, wherein theMBS_MAP_IE carries a parameter for indicating the frame position of thenext MBS_MAP_IE; a second unit, configured to set a sleep durationaccording to the parameter for indicating the frame position of the nextMBS_MAP_IE; and wherein the first unit is further configured to acquirethe next MBS_MAP_IE and MBS data corresponding to the next MBS_MAP_IEwhen the sleep duration expires.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, whereinthe parameter for indicating the frame position of the next MBS_MAP_IEis a parameter for indicating the frame offset from the next MBS_MAP_IEto the MBS_MAP_IE; and the second unit is further configured to the setsleep duration according to the parameter for indicating the frameoffset from the next MBS_MAP_IE to the MBS_MAP_IE.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the MBS_MAP_IE further carries a parameter forindicating the length of the next MBS_MAP_IE and a parameter forindicating the length of the MBS data; and the second unit is furtherconfigured to set the sum of the time duration corresponding to thelength of the next MBS_MAP_IE and the time duration corresponding to thelength of the MBS data as a listening duration; and the first unit isfurther configured to acquire the next MBS_MAP_IE and the MBS datacorresponding to the next MBS_MAP_IE during the listening duration. 12.A method for transmitting data, comprising: transmitting, by a BaseStation, a Multicast and Broadcast Service Mapping Information Element(MBS_MAP_IE) and MBS data corresponding to the MBS_MAP_IE to a mobileterminal, wherein the MBS_MAP_IE carries a parameter for indicating theframe position of a next MBS_MAP_IE.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereinthe MBS_MAP_IE is carried in a DL_MAP message.
 14. The method of claim12, wherein the parameter for indicating the frame position of the nextMBS_MAP_IE is a parameter for indicating the frame offset from the nextMBS_MAP_IE to the MBS_MAP_IE.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein theMBS_MAP_IE further carries a parameter for indicating the symbol offsetfrom the next MBS_MAP_IE to the header of the frame comprising the nextMBS_MAP_IE and a parameter for indicating the length of the nextMBS_MAP_IE.